ABSTRACT
The Criminal Justice Act (CJA) 1991 provided for a new system of fining in magistrates' courts: the 'unit fine' system. Under this system, fines were linked to the offender's income. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council hears final appeals from some Commonwealth countries and its decisions are of persuasive precedent in English law. In an attempt to deal with possible miscarriages of justice, and following the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice in 1993, the Criminal Appeal Act 1995 established the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). The court is required in certain cases to consider a compensation order and to give reasons if it decides not to make such an order. Compensation orders are governed by the provisions of ss 130-34 of the Powers of the Criminal Courts Act 2000. The Crown Court hears all cases involving trial on indictment. It also hears appeals from those convicted summarily in the magistrates' courts.
